hundredweight (US) Unit Converter

Definition of hundredweight (US) unit

A hundredweight (US), abbreviated cwt, is a customary unit of weight equal to 100 avoirdupois pounds, or exactly 45.359237 kilograms. It is also called the short hundredweight, distinguishing it from the British long hundredweight of 112 pounds.

History of hundredweight (US) unit

The hundredweight developed from medieval European weighing practices, when “hundred” did not always mean 100 units. In England, the traditional hundredweight contained 112 pounds, reflecting a definition of a stone as 14 pounds and eight stones per hundredweight. After independence, the United States standardized a smaller, decimalized customary version of 100 pounds, now called the short hundredweight. It became established in commerce, agriculture, and industry, while the British long hundredweight remained in use within imperial measurement systems. International metrication has since reduced its official importance.

Applications of hundredweight (US) unit

Today, the US hundredweight appears mainly in agricultural trading, commodity markets, and some industrial pricing. Grain, livestock, animal feed, fertilizers, and other bulk goods may be quoted or billed per hundredweight, especially in regional or legacy systems. For technical work, invoices and specifications often provide kilogram equivalents because metric units are internationally preferred.

Complete list of hundredweight (US) unit conversion